Page 82 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

498 Records of Bahrain

2235

Arabian, the reason doubtless being that the banks arc fewer, poorer
and more scattered ; but the system of finance, the classes of operatives’
the seasons and methods of fishing, the customs of the industry, and the
manner in which the last arc enforced are apparently much the same as
in the Arabian fishery. 'Ihe boats used, however, are smaller, sometimes
carrying no more, than four men besides the Nakhuda; and in the
matter of tlie division of profits there arc certain differences, for the
share of a diver and that of a hauler are here, as a rule, the same. . On
the Persian side, sailors and other extra hands arc either paid monthly
wages or arc remunerated otherwise under a special arrangement. In
Persia the money-lender corresponding to the Arabian Musaqqam,
from whom a Nakhuda may have taken an advance, is entitled to
purchase the season's take at its full market value only, valuation being
made by assessors; and, if he does so and if the Nakhuda is in need of
further funds through the value of the pearls not exceeding the amount
of his debt to the money-lender, the latter will give the Nakhuda a
further advance and the Nakhuda will be bound to continue in his service.
If, however, the money-lender foregoes his right to take over the pearls,
the Nakhuda is entitled to sell them himself, and should he, after doing
so, be unable to discharge his debt to the mouey-lender, the latter will
have a personal claim against him only, and will have no power to attach
his boat or to detain the divers from service elsewhere.
At Kharag Island the fishery is carried on under altogether
exceptional conditions. There the operations arc conducted .under the
supervision of the local Zabit by small boats carrying, as a rule, in
addition to the Nakhuda who is almost always the owner, only two divers
and two haulers, 'flic crew receive pecuniary advances from the Nakhuda
at the beginning of the season, but the}' are not supplied by him with
food, for they live on shore and go to work at 8 o'clock in the morning,
returning to their homes for the night. The day's take is brought every
evening to the Zabit, who seals it up and returns it to the .Nakhuda for
custody. At the cud of the season the whole catch is divided between
the Khan of Hayat Pavud and the operatives,in the proportion of one-
fourth and three-fourths respectively ; or the Nakhuda may, if he pleases,
retain the whole on paying to the Khan one-fourtli the value of the pearls
plus 15 per cent, of the same, and to the divers and haulers their proper
shares.* Among the operatives about one-fourth goes to the Nakhuda as
owner of the boat, and the balance is divided among the divers and haulers
as it is upon the Arabian side, that is, in the proportion of three shih’cs to
each diver and two to each hauler ; but here the Nakhuda, if he takes
an active part in the fishing, is reckoned as a Saib only and not as a
Ghais.

The trade in pearls.

We arc now in a position to consider the manner in which the. produce
of the fisheries is disposed of. ________ _____
* See also statement on page 2289 from a different source.

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